Resilient communities and the Just Green Transition: Towards adaptive and inclusive governance

Resilience has gained prominence as a governance paradigm in addressing the sociological uncertainties inherent in just green transitions. Thus, offering a framework for navigating the complexities, disruptions, and interdependencies that characterise the shift toward sustainable and equitable systems. This article investigates how governance mechanisms can be used to support adaptive and inclusive responses to challenges of green transition across diverse community contexts. Using a systematic literature review of 170 papers from 2015-2025, a complementary case study analysis, and 19 in-depth interviews, the study identifies governance mechanisms for transitions of resilience and justice. The paper addresses a critical question: How can resilient governance mechanisms be designed and implemented across diverse community contexts to support successful transformation processes? The findings indicate that participatory governance, including other forms of arrangements such as decentralised institutional arrangements, occurs across successful transition cases. The paper presents policy recommendations for policymakers, institutions, and community leaders seeking to navigate the complexities of the green transition while strengthening social cohesion. It concludes by proposing a resilience-based governance framework focused on distributive justice and human rights, contributing to more just and sustainable green transition trajectories.